Wrapping and banding machine



Aug. 11, 1936. F. x. MALOCSAY WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed March12, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR X FRANCIS X NHL 0 0,514)

Aug. 11, 1936. F. x. MALOCSAY WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed March12, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fi/ZIVCZS X f 710C612 BY tf, 4 ATTORNs Aug. 11, 1936.

F. x. MALOCSAY 2,050,717 I WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed March 1 2,1954 6 Sheets-Sheet s INVE OR Mm zsx l" a I ATTORNEYS Aug. 1 1, 1936.

F. x. MALOCSAY WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1954 6Shets-Sheet 5 iirwamf WJYlPPfR 67 62 3 if A L :4 0 52 53 87 8 73 i I I L1 1 1 1 I 76 WWW INVENTOR I F. X. MALOCSAY WRAPPING AND BAND INC:MACHINE Aug. 11

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 llII Filed March 12, 1954 INVENTOR TTONEYS PatentedAug. 11, 1936 were STATES FFEE WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE ApplicationMarch 12, 1934, Serial No. 715,124

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of banding and wrapping cigars, andmore particularly to the wrapping of transparent wrappers and bandsaround cigars.

It is among the general objects of the present invention to provide animproved wrapping and banding mechanism, which will be entirelyautomatic in its operation.

In some of my prior applications for example,

-. in the wrapping and banding machine described in Serial No. 653,609,filed January 26, 1933, I have shown similar mechanisms foraccomplishing similar objects, i. e. mechanisms, adapted to fold andsecure a wrapper and a band simultaneously around a cigar, and many ofthe mechanisms and appurtenances to be mentioned and described are alikein both machines. There is, however, this difference in the methods ofwrapping and banding a cigar:--Accrding to the prior inventive conceptthe cigar was wrapped directly into the wrapper and the cigar band wasapplied over it, encircling the wrapper; according to the presentconcept the cigar band is secured directly to the cigar and the wrappercovers the band, so that the latter may be seen and read through thetransparent wrapper. This difference in objected aim and resultsobtained calls for modifications of the folding and wrapping means andthe improvements proposed and described hereinafter are directlyconcerned with effecting these deviating results in the most eificient,simplest and most economical manner. Some of these modifications whichare not directly concerned with the wrapping and handing operationsthemselves, but with the feeding of the wrapper and band material to acommon wrapping and banding position, are shown in my copendingapplication, filed February 2'7, 1934, Serial No. 713,116, but theimprovements described hereinafter are confined to the wrapping andbanding operations and mechanisms themselves.

The machines themselves, both in the last mentioned as well as in thepresent application, follow the same principles in the generalarrangement, to wit: The wrapper feed rollers are located at the rear ofthe machine, while the band magazine and band feeding device ispositioned on the opposite or front side of the machine, separated fromeach other by the rectilinear cigar feeding and delivery path towardwhich both devices feed a wrapper and a band respectively, in such a Waythat the band is put underneath the Wrapper by means of a reciprocatinggripper; thus. both the band and the neath into said combined wrapperand band by a reciprocating vertical plunger and carried upwardly alittle way into the'banding and Wrapping position properly, which thenremains stationary during the rest of the wrapping, banding andend-sealing operations, and when these are finished, it can be foreseenthat the result will be a cigar wrapped into a transparent wrapper withthe band being visible through the latter.

Considered more in detail it is among the ob jects of the presentinvention to provide awrapper-and-band-applying device which willapply awrapper over a band and both in unison over a cigar in a wrapping andbanding position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby cigars arefed separately and in spaced relationship into this position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapper and bandapplying device which will fold a band and a superimposed wrapper overthree sides of a cigar from above while carrying the cigar together withthe wrappings into a wrapping and banding position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which willcomplete the banding and wrapping operations from this point on withoutmoving said cigar.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the cigar,before it is pushed into its hand and wrapper, is exactly adjusted in anaxial or longitudinal direction so that the overreaching ends of thewrapper will be of equal and suitable lengths.

Another similar object of the invention is to provide novel centeringmeans whereby the cigar,

before it is pushed into its band and wrapper,

is exactly adjusted in a direction normal to its own axis, so that itwill meet the band and wrapper in the proper place.

A further object of the invention is to provide wrapping means adaptedto fold band ends and Wrapper ends around the fourth or underside of thecigar simultaneously.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby, beforethe wrapper ends are folded into place, the ungummed end of 5 the bandis tucked inwardly against the body of the cigar.

Another object of the invention, corollary to the last named, is toprovide means whereby, before the final folding of the wrapper ends, thegummed and moistened end of the band is pressed against the abovementioned end, so that the band is positively sealed before the wrapperis closed over it.

Another object is to provide novel and adjustable actuating means forboth band folding and tucking devices.

Other more specific objects and advantages of the device will appear asthe nature of the improvements are better understood, the inventionconsisting substantially in the novel arrange ment, and correlation ofinstrumentalities herein fully described and illustrated in the ac-'companying drawings wherein similar reference characters are used todescribe corresponding parts throughout the several views and thenfinally pointed out and specifically defined and indicated in theappended claims.

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventiveconcept suggests apractical embodiment thereof, but the invention is notto be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and the lattertherefore is to be understood from an illustrative rather than arestrictive standpoint. It will be also understood that the variousfeatures of the present invention disclosed may be separately applicabledespite their cooperation herein shown.

This invention may be more fully understood from the followingdescription in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig.1 is -a top plan view of a complete banding and wrapping arrangement,showing the cigar feeding and discharge table, the wrapper feedmechanism (with the wrapper roll omitted) on the right-hand or rear sideof the table and the band feed mechanism on the left-hand or front sideof the table. In the center is shown a spread-out wrapper with a bandunderneath, which has just been fed over a cigar,.coming from the cigarfeeding rack, shown in the upper part of the top plan view. Cigar andband are indicated in dotted lines.

The folding and wrapping mechanism itself, which is supposed to belocated just above said wrapper, is not shown in this view.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation (sectional in parts) of this folding andwrapping mechanism, viewed from across the table, with the band andwrapper feed devices omitted, and showing the vertical plunger in theact of elevating a cigar, carrying the band and wrapper on its top intothe wrapping position.

r Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation, taken along the line'33 of Fig.2, also depicting the cigar feeding mechanism and the devices foractuating the cigar holding and wrapping and banding'r'neans themselves.

Fig. 4 is a view partly sectional similar to' Fig. 2,.but taken justbehind the operating parts shown in full in the upper half of Fig. 2, atthe same time showing the'plunger having elevated the cigar fully intoits stationary wrapping position.

Fig. 5 is a fractional view of the last illustration, showing themechanism of the tucking finger which presses the gummed end of the bandagainst the cigar.

Fig. 6 is a detail side view, partly in section, which shows thewrapping jaws and the fold= ing finger which pushes the ungummed end ofthe band into closing position.

Fig. '7 is a fractional plan view of the band folding plates with thewrapping jaws shown in cross-section, the view being taken along theline 'l--'| of Fig. 4.

Figs. 8 to 11 are similar views, more or less shown diagrammatically,and illustrating con-- secutive steps of the banding and wrappingoperations.

Similar characters denote throughout the different views.

Referring more in detail to the figures listed, we see in Figs. 1 and 2,the cigars C, supported on the plate F advanced in spaced formation to aposition beneath the wrapping mechanism D and beneath the wrapper Wtogether with the band B, just over the plunger 3 when the latter is inits lowest position.

The cigars are originally fed automatically from a hopper, not shown inthe drawings, but located at the upper end of the table I (above what isshown'in the'drawing of Fig. 1)., The type of this mechanism is fullydescribed and illustrated in my former Patent No. 1,653,641, filedDecember 27, 1927, as also in the copending applications, Serial No.492,437 (Cigar banding machine) filed October 31, 1930, or in Serial No.519,347 (Cigar handling machines), filed March 2, 1931'.

Thecig ars are first advanced in close formation by advancing bars to aseparator (not shown) from which point they are advanced in spacedformation by the feed racks 22, as shown. The spaced cigars areprevented from rolling or being disturbed, while not supported by thereciprocating and temporarily lowered feed racks, by a feeler arm (notespecially shown) which keeps them under tension during these intervals.

The actuating mechanism of the feed racks 2--2 is best shown in Fig. 3.The racks are mounted on a reciprocating frame 4, slidably supported onthe plate 5, secured to a vertically reciprocating stem 6, guided in thebearing 1, forming a'part of table frame I. Stem 6 is slottedand carriesa roller 8 within its slot which is engaged by the fingers through analigned and corresponding slot la in the bearing 1. The fin ger 9 isadjustably fastened to the cam lever ID, the latter being looselymounted on shaft I l and lifted periodically by another cam (not shown)against the tension of spring 12, while at the same time the slidableframe 4, which properly carries the feed racks, reciprocates the same ina horizontal direction toward and away from the wrapping mechanism bymeans of a connecting rod and eccentric (not shown in the presentapplication). In Fig. 3 the feed racks are shown in their loweredposition, having released their sideward pressure against the cigars bydropping downwardly 'and'moving in an arc toward the left end of themachine underneath the following cigar and rising again sothat theirupwardly extending ears [3 register again with the spaces between thecigars. When now they move again to the right, they will advance thespaced cigar another step, placing again the leading cigar in line withthe wrapping mechanism D and over the elevating plunger 3 (see Figs. 2and 8), the reciprocating and plunging motions being so regulated andactivated that they are in perfect synchronism with the time it takes toband and Wrap one cigar after the other.

similar parts While the cigars thus are advanced step by step from thehopper toward the wrapping mechanism, the heads of the cigars which,looking at the top plan view in Fig. 1, are to the right, follow a rail3 which runs parallel with the feed racks 22 to the point where thecigars commence to be spaced. From this point the rail is adjusted toform a slight angle (about e" per foot) with the racks, terminating atthe wrapping mechanism D where it is nearest to the feed rack. As thecigars are advanced they are gradually shifted endwise to the left sothat when they arrive above the elevating plunger 3 they are in properrelation to the band and wrapping T mechanism D, eliminating thereby thenecessity of providing a movable finger, moving each cigar endwise to afixed gauge, which might damage the delicate end (on the left side) byany pressure applied thereto.

With the cigar properly gauged into the right position above theelevating plunger (see Fig. 8) the latter lifts the cigar to a locationbetween the universal centering jaws l5, l6, which are then in theiropen position. Then the jaw !5, moving to the right, and the jaw IE,moving to the left, will hold the cigar in a light yielding grip,centering it regardless of its width, with the band and wrapper havingarrived above it, where they have been fed into this position by thewrapper feed and band feed mechanism, mentioned before and described inthe copending application, Ser. No. 713,116.

Universal centering jaws In former applications, i. e. Ser. No. 653,609,centering jaws were shown which substantially perform the same function.The arrangement to be disclosed hereinafter is, however, different, moresimplified and effective. Jaw I6 is substantially the same as in formerdevices, except that it has openings Hia through which the feed racks 22can pass, while the jaw I5 is entirely suspended above the path of thecigar feed, so as to ofier no obstruction in the path of the cigars,especially when exceptionally long cigars are to be wrapped, and also tofacilitate the placing of the band over the cigar in any desiredposition in relation to the length of the latter. (See Fig. 3.) Jaw I6is essentially a vertical one-armed lever, pivoted with its lower end onframe I (not shown) and a short distance from the upper end a horizontalconnecting rod i8 is linked to the stud l7, provided on the jaw leverl6, while the other end of the rod is linked at l9 to the upwardlyextending end of bell crank 20, fixedly secured on rocking shaft 2|. Thesuspended jaw i5 is essentially a horizontal swing, suspended at twopoints 26 and 23 with one end formed as a T-shaped jaw and projectingbeyond the suspension point 23. At the latter point member I5 is hungfrom link 22, pivotally suspended from a stud 24, secured in the mainbracket 25, while the rear end is hung at point 26 from the downwardlyextending arm 21 of the big bellcrank 28 which is pivotally suspendedfrom another stud 29, secured in main bracket 25. The formerly mentionedbell brank 20 to which jaw It was linked, and the bell crank 28 to whichjaw I5 is linked are coupled together by the vertical connecting rod 3!,linked at its lower end to the free end of the bell crank 20 by means ofthe stud 32 and at the top end to the free end of the bell crank 28 bymeans of the stud 39. It should be apparent then, that if the rockingshaft 2| is turned in a counterclockwise sense (which movement iseifected :by the tension of a spring, not shown) jaw lever l6 which canswing about its lower pivotal point, is drawn to the left, while jaw l5,forming the end of the doubly suspended swing is pushed to the right,thus clamping the elevated cigar between them. This arrangement assuresa perfect centering of the cigar relative to the band, regardless of anyvariation in width or thickness of the cigars to be banded and wrapped.If, however, the shaft 2| is rocked in a clockwise sense (which movementis brought about by a cam device (not shown)) then jaw 15 is pulled tothe left, and jaw i6 is pushed to the right, away from the cigar whichis thus released and can thence be elevated by the plunger 3 and pushedinto the band and superimposed wrapper in properly adjustedrelationship.

While, however, the cigar is still held between the jaws i5 and H5 inthe position shown in Fig. 3, the band and wrapper is supported looselyabove the cigar, the ungummed end of the band resting on thereciprocating gripper I53 (which is shown in detail and described in thecopending application, mentioned before) while the free gummed end restson the upper edge of the T' shaped jaw l5. The top view of band andwrapper, showing its relative position to the cigar is shown in Fig. 1.While in this position, just before the jaws open again, the uppervertically moving plunger 35 reaches its lowermost position, resting onthe wrapper, band and cigar under the tension of springs 3535' (Figs. 2and 3) whereas the wrapping jaws 36 and 3'? are still in their openingposition. The lateral edges of the wrapper are meanwhile supported onthe blades 33 and 34 (Fig. 3).

The plunger 3 moves now further upwards, carrying the cigar, band,wrapper and upper plunger 35 with it, while the lower jaws l 5 and I6open up, as Fig. 9 indicates. As in further progress the cigar with bandand wrapper enters between the wrapping jaws 36 and 3'1, the protrudinglateral edges of the wrapper, as well as the ends of the band, are bentdownward and then the jaws move inwardly toward the cigar, foldingwrapper and band smoothly against the sides of the cigar until the cigarwith band and wrapper, together with the upper plunger 35 reaches itsextreme ultimate upper position where it is to remain stationary for therest of the operations. Fig. shows this, except that this view in itslower part anticipates a further progress, inasmuch as so far theelevating plunger 3 has not released its support of the cigar yet whilethe tucking finger 42 is still in its lower and non-contacting position.When the elevating plunger reaches its uppermost position, the left handfolding plate 38 moves a little to the right, just enough to bearunderneath the wrapping jaw 35, as Fig. 1-0 indicates. Therewith the endof the brake member 39 (shown more plainly in its relative position andinter-connection on Figs. 3 and 4), which moves simultaneously withmember 38, begins to exert a pressure against the inner surface of theupper vertical plunger slide 43 (Figs. 4 and 10) to prevent the samefrom moving downward under the tension of springs 35 when the supportingplunger 3 is lowered. As the jaws 36 and 3? are tightly gripping thehalfwrapped cigar with the ends of the wrapper and band loosely hangingdownward, it is clear that when the elevating plunger is now lowered,the cigar will remainsuspended with its under side free to beoperatedupon. The folding plate 38,

as explained before,'abides. for a moment underneath jaw 36, but thehook-shaped member 4| whose mechanism will be explained in detail later,moves now inwardly, pressing against the downwardly hanging edge of thewrapper and causing thereby'also the band end to assume a positioninclined toward theunderside of the cigar (shown in. dotted lines inFig. 10). Simultaneously with the lowering of the plunger 3, the tucker42, which is situated in-one of the free gaps of the three-formedplunger 3 (see Fig. 5) moves upward, pressing against the ungummed anduplifted end of the band, as shown in full lines (Figs. and 5). The lefthand folding plate 36 moves then further to the right, folding thegummed (and moistened) end of the band, together with the wrapper edgeagainst the underside of the cigar, the tucker 42 slipping out of theWay, as it is withdrawn from its contacting position by the continueddownward motion of the plunger 3. At the same time the hook-shapedmember 4| is moved back to its normal position by its bellcrank 43, asexplained later (see Fig. 6). As the folding plate 38 reaches itsextreme right-hand position, the right-hand folding plate 49 moves tothe left to fold the remainingdownward hanging edge of the wrapper, andas it continues to move to the left, now in union with the recedingwrapping plate 38, the beveled edges of the two plates close up (beingbeveled in opposite directions) while the edge of the wrapper slips outupwardly from between them. Then both plates 38 and 49tmoving to theleft, to the position shown in Fig. 11, complete the closing of the bandand wrapper sides.

End-creasing and delivering device When the wrapping jaws 363'| closeupon the folded wrapper sides, the lugs 45 provided at both ends of thejaw plates (see Figs. 7, 8 and 9) tuck in the overhanging wrapper endsso that they are creased approximately in the form of an X. In unisonwith the folding plate 49 travel three other members, i. e., thehorizontally suspended bar 44 (see Figs. 3, 9, 10 and 11) and thecreasing jaws 46 and 41. The bar 44 is bent in such a way that whenfolding plate 49 reaches the position shown in Fig. 11, the bar comes torest on the upper face of cigar C which it slightly contacts. Jaw 41passes beneath the projecting ends of the wrapper while jaw 46 passesabove them. When folding plate 49 reaches its extreme left position, jaw41 moves up while jaw 46 descends. When at this moment the wrapping jaws36 and 3'! open up, removing thereby the lugs 45, the upper creasingjaws 46, moving down shearlike over the lower creasing jaw 41, makes aperfect bellowfold of the collapsed overhanging ends. As Fig. 7indicates, the creasing jaws are so located that they operate within agap in the wrapping jaws 36, 31. The creasing jaws are actuated toperform the described motions by cam and lever devices, but as theseend-creasing elements do not form a claimed part of this invention andsaid devices are more fully described in the mentioned applications,they are omitted in the drawings.

When the jaws 36, 37 open up at the end of the bellow-folding operation,the cigar is still held securely in place by folding plate 49 and thebar 45, resting on top of it. The jaw 31, carrying member 45 with it, islifted up by lever 43 (see Fig. 6) while the upper plunger 35 is raisedby lever 48 (Fig. 3) then the cigar is carried out of the wrappingmechanism D by the wrapping plate 49' and the bar 44 moving to theright. From this point the wrapped and banded cigar is carried stillfurther to the heat-sealing means by mechanism not shown or claimedherein.

Summing up, while the wrapping jaws 36, 31, the upper plunger 35, theleft and right folding plates 36 and 49, the lower plunger 3 and thecreasing jaws 4 6, 4'!- are substantially alike the corresponding parts,shown and described in prior applications, the tucking element 42 andthe folding finger 4|, for placing the band directly on the cigar,inside the wrapper, the suspended centering jaw l5 and the cigar feedingand gauging mechanism are'claimed as novel improvements.

Band-folding member 41 The function of this member 4! is to direct theungummed end of the band into the path of the tucker 42. It issubstantially shaped like a hook, with a forked prong at the endandpivotally fastened on a stud 56, the latter being a fixed or integralpart of the movable jaw 31. A cushion spring 5|, seated in a littlesocket in the jaw plate tends to keep member 4| in its normal position,in which its end prong does not protrude into the space between thewrapping jaws 363'|. Any outward swing of the member 4| in the oppositedirection is limited by the stop 52, a little bracket secured by thescrews 53-53 to the jaw plate (see Figs. 2 and 6). Looking at Fig. 6,one sees that the jaw 37 is hung from the shaft 64. The latter, as Fig.2 indicates, is journalled in the U-shaped and curved frame 63 whichitself with its free ends is rotatably linked to two members 90, fixedlyseated on shaft 9|. The lower part of the jaw is also freely hung at E3in a similar way, and if there were so far nothing else to support thejaw casting, it is apparent that normally it would tend to dropdownward. This drop however is limited by the fixed stop 66, forming anintegral part of the frame, on which the upper plunger 35 slides. Thejaw carries a roller 65 (see Figs. 2 and 3) with which it comes to arest on the stop 66, and when it is drawn inwardly by thecounter-clockwise rocking of shaft 89 and the jaw controlling links 88,the roller glides along the surface of the stop 66. Any lifting of thejaw however has to be effected'by the bell crank 43 in a mannerpresently described. This bell crank, carried on a stud 56, which issecured in the main bracket 25, is connected by stud 51 and theconnecting rod 58 to a cam lever, actuated by a cam on the main camshaft (shown in prior applications). Rigidly secured to the free end ofthe bell crank 43 by the stud 59 is the upright member 60 which with aforked top end BI is adaptedto embrace the stud 62, the latter forming arigid portion of the frame 63 from which the wrapping jaw 31 is hung.When therefore the bell crankis swung in a counter-clockwise sense, theforked member 60 will engage the stud 62, lifting upthe frame 63 andthereby the whole jaw 31 together with the band-folding member 4|.

An angular bracket 54, carrying a leaf spring 55 which acts as acushion, is fixedly attached to the member 4|. Another bracket 61 whichhas a downwardly curved nose 69, adapted to contact the leaf spring, isattached by screws 68 .to the forked member 6!). If now the jaw hasdroppedas far as it can, arrested by the stop 66, the bell crank 43(which has permitted this downward motion by its own clockwise movementand the lowering of forked member 60) continues its clockwise movementstill a little further, thereby pressing with the nose 69 upon thespring 55 and swinging the member 4| inwardly against the tension ofspring 5i. This sets the folding prongs at the end of the memher inaction, thereby pushing the ungummed band end into the path of thetucker member 42.

Operation of tucking finger 42 The arrangement of the tucker finger,mentioned in connection with Figs. 8, 9 and 10, is best understood fromFigs. 2, 4 and-5.

On the vertically moving frame 70, slidably mounted on bar H and guide12, is secured by bolts 92-92 the cigar-elevating three-forked plunger3. Bolted thereto is a bracket or bar 93, carrying a stud M on which ispivotally mounted the bell crank 15, having a stud it? at one end, whichby a link it is connected to stud 18 of the vertically slidable tuckermember 32, said member being provided with slots iii-J3, engaging theguide pins 88-89 on plunger 3, over which it can reciprocatingly slideup or down, being normally kept in a lowered position by its own weight.The outwardly protruding arm of the bell crank carries a spring 84 whoselower end is attached to the free end of the spring-tensioned controlarm 8!, pivoted on stud 82, secured in bracket 83, which latter forms afixed part of guide member 12. Both the bell crank and the control arm8| are provided each with a lateral lug 86 and 94 respectively, adaptedto serve as abutments for controlling stops, presently to be described.

When the plunger 3 is in its lowest position, the cigar-supportingsurface is slightly lower than the cigar-feeding level, so that thefeeding racks 2-2 can easily shift the cigar, to be wrapped and banded,onto the top of the plunger. At this moment the controlling arm 8! andthe protruding arm of the bell crank 15 will be about in the positionsindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. 'I'hereupcn the plunger movesupwardly into the cigar-centering position, shown in Fig. 2, and the arm8! and bell crank 15 assume the position shown in full lines. At thismoment, about, the lug 94 comes into contact with the adjustableabutting screw stop 85. Further upward movement of the plunger 3 willfirst stretch the spring 84, as the upward swing of the control arm 8!has come to a stop, thereupon the spring begins to tilt the bell crank15 in a counter-clockwise sense, and consequently the slidable tuckermember 42 begins to travel upwards, quicker than the plunger itselfdoes, until it touches the underside of the cigar. Thereupon it moves inunison with the elevating plunger 3, but before the latter has quitereached its highest position, the lug 8B of the bell crank comes intocontact with the downwardly extending stop 8?, fixedly attached to thefeed table F, rocking the bell crank '55 in a clockwise direction duringthe remaining upward movement of plunger 3. The tucker finger 12, thusdrawn away from the cigar, permits the member 4! to swing the un gummedband end over the tip of the tucker finger. As soon as however theplunger begins its downward course, while the cigar is held suspended bythe wrapping jaws 3631, as explained, the tucker finger 42 upon releaseof the stop 81, moves quickly upward under tension of the spring 84 andpresses the ungummed end of the band fully against the underside of thecigar, as can be seen in Fig. 5. As the plunger continues its descent,the pulling action of spring 84 ceases, allowing the control arm 8| tomove down, away from screw stop 85 whereupon the tucker 42 returns toits lowered position in its relation to the plunger. The member. 6!simultaneously has returned to its retracted position, and after thecompletion of the banding and wrapping operation the cigar which nowrests upon the plate 49 and is held in place by the feeler bar at, isremoved sideways to a heat-sealing device, as mentioned before.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed my invention, but I desire it understood that it is notconfined to the particular form shown and described, the same beingmerely illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out in otherways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore Iclaim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalitiescoming within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of which,objects of my invention are attained and new results accomplished, as itis obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and describedare only some of many that can be employed-to attain these objects andaccomplish these results.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A cigar banding and wrapping machine, comprising means to convey acigar with a loose band, provided with moistened adhesive and a loosewrapper superimposed over the band into a banding and wrapping positionand means to adhesively close the band next to the cigar, around thelatter, and to securely close a wrapper over both, while the cigar isheld stationary during these operations.

2. The combination with a cigar banding and wrapping machine comprisinga cigar feeding device, adapted to convey cigars, originally adjacentlyarrayed, in a rectilinear path and with intermittent stops toward awrapping and banding position; of a cigar spacing device, adapted toseparate and evenly space said cigars from a predetermined point beforethey reach said position, and a single guiding rail, running alongsidethe rectilinear path at a small angle and adapted to gradually shift thecigars endwise into a centering alignment with the predeterminedwrapping and banding position.

3. In a cigar banding and wrapping machine, the combination with a cigarfeeding device, comprising means to deliver cigars in spacedrelationship into a wrapping and banding location; of

a cigar centering device adapted to adjust the position of the leadingcigar when delivered into said location, said device comprising a jaw,serving as a stop to limit the forward motion of said cigar andconsisting of an upright onearmed lever, pivotally fastened at the lowerend and contacting with its free end the front side of the leadingcigar, and another jaw contacting the rear side of said cigar andarranged in such, a way that it does not interfere with the cigarspacingand delivering means, said jaw consist ing essentially of a horizontalswing suspended over the cigar spacing and delivering device and formedat the free end in the shape of a clamping jaw, positioned opposite tothe first jaw, and means to make the jaws converge yieldingly to eachother until they contact the cigar, irrespective of its thickness.

4. In a cigar banding and wrapping machine for applying a gummed bandabout a cigar and enclosing the banded cigar within a wrapper, the

combination with a pair of wrapping jaws adapted to fold said Wrapper,with the band underneath it, around three sides of the cigar; of aspring controlled hook-shaped folding finger cooperatively connectedwith one of said wrapping jaws and adapted with its hook-shaped end toautomatically fold a portion of the adjacent free lateral edge of thewrapper together with the adjacent end of the band underneath the fourthside of the cigar for further wrapping operations, means to reciprocatethis same wrapping jaw in a vertical direction and mechanical means tocontrol the action of the folding finger in such a way that it performssaid function when the Wrapping jaw is lowered and contacts with thewrapper, and becomes inactive when the wrapping jaw is raised.

5.- In a cigar banding and-wrapping machine for applying a gummed bandabout a cigar and enclosing the banded cigar within a wrapper, thecombination with a cigar elevating plunger adapted to carry a cigar witha band and wrapper, superimposed upon each other in the order named,

into a stationary banding and wrapping position,

and a pair of wrapping jaws adapted to fold said wrapper and handagainst three sides of the cigar and means to deflect one band end overthe edges of the fourth side; of a tucker device, adapt edto press saiddeflected band end firmly'against said fourth side, said device beingslidably guided in a vertical slide on the cigar elevating plunger, andof means to elevate the tucker device within said' vertical slideindependently from the upward travel of the plunger.

6. In a cigar banding and wrapping machine for applying a gummer bandabout a cigar and enclosing the banded cigar within a wrapper, thecombination with a cigar elevating plunger adapted to carry a cigar witha band and wrapper, superimposed upon each other in the order named,into a stationary bandingand wrapping position, and a pair of wrappingjaws adapted to fold said wrapper and band against three sides of thecigar and auxiliary means to bend one end of the cigar band toward themiddle of the fourth side of the cigar; of a tucker device adapted topress said band end firmly against said side, said device being slidablyguided in a vertical slide on the cigar elevating plunger, and of meansto elevate the tucker device within said vertical slide independentlyfrom the ratio and speed of the plunger.

FRANCIS X. MALOCSAY.

